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Gubernatorial candidate Caitlyn Jenner (R) talks to reporters about homeless issues as she campaigns to overthrow California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) in an upcoming recall election.
AFP via Getty Images
Republican Caitlyn Jenner contributed $25,000 to her campaign in California’s gubernatorial recall election on Friday. It was the first time she (or anyone from the famously wealthy Jenner-Kardashian clan) had donated a dollar to the effort.
Jenner’s campaign could use some cash. As of July 31, it had just $21,000 on hand, along with $156,000 of debt, according to a report submitted to California’s secretary of state. In the first seven months of 2021, Jenner raised $747,000 but spent $910,000.
Even though she hasn’t put in much of her own money, the Olympian-turned reality star has collected plenty from friends. Real estate magnate John Catsimatidis, Oracle founder Larry Ellison and GoDaddy founder Bob Parsons all pitched in. “Caitlyn Jenner is a heroic American,” Catsimatidis told Forbes. “I have had lunch with her…met several times with her…had her as a guest on my WABC Radio program. She has good, old-fashioned, American common sense.”
It doesn’t seem like enough Californians agree with Catsimatidis to make Jenner a serious contender though. A UC-Berkeley/Los Angeles Times poll shows that just 3% of voters want Jenner to replace current Governor Gavin Newsom, who still has support from 49% of Californians, according to FiveThirtyEight.
Voting already has begun in the special election, which ends on Sept. 14.
Caitlyn Jenner made her first contribution to her campaign on Friday.
CALIFORNIA SECRETARY OF STATE/CAITLYN JENNER FOR GOVERNOR 2021, INC
I took an unusual route to get here. In a past life, I worked as a travel and food writer, which is how I got the assignment in 2016 to cover the grand opening of the
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I took an unusual route to get here. In a past life, I worked as a travel and food writer, which is how I got the assignment in 2016 to cover the grand opening of the Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C., just a couple miles from my home. When Trump won the election and refused to divest his business, I stayed on the story, starting a newsletter called 1100 Pennsylvania (named after the hotel’s address) and contributed to Vanity Fair, Politico and NBC News. I’m still interested in Trump, but I’ve broadened my focus to follow the money connected to other politicians as well—both Republicans and Democrats.